So after finishing the handrail - I decided to finish some other tasks on Sunday:

Previously mentioned that I needed to replace my 70's look captains stools.
I got a good buy on these swiveling bar stools. So; I took a chance and bought 8 of them to use throughout the basement. The price was right but they required some mind-numbing assembly (decided it was also a good time to scotchguard the microfiber seats). Turned out to be well made, and very sturdy - for the cost.

Will leave 2 or 3 in the pub room:

Two for my "back row" in the Theater, to keep my "SVS pub table" company:

And 3 or 4 stools to go in the Billiard room. Speaking of billiard room; I found this "cheesey" art at my local blockbuster, was a perfect fit to go above the drink ledge:

Man! Those stairs look great, love the stain color very rich looking! Fast to go up too. Maybe I should have had you come to the house to do mine as well. Still in the construction phase, but getting closer.

I like the "cheesy" photo too, works very well in the billiards/pool room.

Handrail looks awesome. When you finished did you yell "Fixed the newel post!" ?

LOL >> Yes indeed the wife and I have been wearing that line out

And a side story:
The very top of the newell post is topped off with a decorative wood cap that needed to be attached by glue or trim nails (it sits in a routed square hole on top).

I kept telling the wife I needed to glue this in. She said leave it loose as our trademark; Then every time a guest would come down the stairs and it fell off >> we would have the chance to quote that most famous line...

Somehow, I missed the final pics of the rail. It came out awesome. Very impressive cuz!

Thanks Queen!

And as for your mention of flat panels:
Last night I ran a coax lead to a receptacle plate in the billiard room. The purpose? For Superbowl Sunday > I will temporarily move the flat panel from our master bedroom down here for overflow seating.

Looks like we will have about 24 for our party > Using the barstools; I can get 10~12 seated in the theater. So at any one time 1/2 the guests can take turns in the "box" theater seats. The other 1/2 can roam between 3 alternate TVs (pub room, billiard room ,and family room), the bar, and the food table

1) Finally got my Harmony One programmed! I have an older model that I set up 5 years ago. This new one is very slick, and IMO even easier to program. Hey it even had drivers that control my "cheapo" bank of light dimmers (a set of 3 made by 3BM)

2) Got all 4 of my Bass-shakers installed in the Berklines, Even got two of them wired, need to finish up tonight. And of course had to test them with some cannon fire from Master & Commander

3) WATCHED MOVIES
watched UP - good for a family animation, watched the western > Apaloosa, and the latest release of Gone With the Wind.

Looking for some good dramatic material for next weekend?
(we are entertaining another couple with dinner and a viewing)

Nice setup! I was wondering what you thought about the 3bm dimmer switches by now? I was planning on using Lutron Maestro's until I learned that they can't be controlled separately, but I understand that these can? Are you able to set a "favorite" level of dimness so that you can hit your remote and know it will stop at the pre-determined level of dimness, or do you have to hold the button until it is at the desired level of brightness? I know that the Lutrons can be set to go either full on, full off, or go to your preferred level of brightness for that lighting zone. Just wondering if the 3bm's had the same ability. I hadn't found a good "review" of them and was thinking of getting the set of 3 myself.
Thanks!

I was wondering what you thought about the 3bm dimmer switches by now? I was planning on using Lutron Maestro's until I learned that they can't be controlled separately, but I understand that these can? Are you able to set a "favorite" level of dimness so that you can hit your remote and know it will stop at the pre-determined level of dimness, or do you have to hold the button until it is at the desired level of brightness? I know that the Lutrons can be set to go either full on, full off, or go to your preferred level of brightness for that lighting zone. Just wondering if the 3bm's had the same ability. I hadn't found a good "review" of them and was thinking of getting the set of 3 myself.

jkagsl;

Sorry about my slow response, to your 3BM questions:

So far so good. When I set up the harmony; I was pleased to find that it was a device listed in their database library (at least; a minimal level of functionality).

I have to assume that someone out here went thru the teaching steps for some of the functions. I myself have not had the time to try and do any more teaching, or add any more functions. However; what I have found so far:

One can switch all 3 zones on /or off simultaneously

Same for dimmers, not sure about preset levels of dimming, but it will increment (dim/brighten) all 3 zones simultaneously, (one step down or up with each push of the virtual on-screen button).

I've got to believe that more functionality is possible by teaching; from the 3BM remote to the Harmony - I just have not had the time yet.

So in preparations for the SB party; My wife found some "cinema art" on sale to be added to the project.

First up is the Cinema sign at the entry to the HT:

Next two photos are pictures that are temporarily located on the right wall; I think they go well with the color scheme, but they are hanging very close or on top of the FRPs. Someday they will be moved, and replaced with some GOM wrapped OC703 panels. For now:

We had about 25 guests spread between 3 rooms, the upstairs family room, the HT room, and for the youth that arrived late > they ended up here; in the pub room:

I claim the 2 characters below (on the left) as being from my family tree:

And those that arrived early found themselves in the box seats:

Check out that vintage WHO concert shirt:

Everyone else "cycled thru" the HT and went back upstairs for food and family room viewing! At least until the WHO came on. and atthat point I was "dared" to lean on the gain control for a bass test > that brought out the bass and all of the curiosity seekers. All in All: MANY compliments, and a good time was had by all
And to all the AVSers on these forums >> I say Thank You for a community of support, ideas, and encouragement.

So far so good. When I set up the harmony; I was pleased to find that it was a device listed in their database library (at least; a minimal level of functionality).

I have to assume that someone out here went thru the teaching steps for some of the functions. I myself have not had the time to try and do any more teaching, or add any more functions. However; what I have found so far:

One can switch all 3 zones on /or off simultaneously

Same for dimmers, not sure about preset levels of dimming, but it will increment (dim/brighten) all 3 zones simultaneously, (one step down or up with each push of the virtual on-screen button).

I've got to believe that more functionality is possible by teaching; from the 3BM remote to the Harmony - I just have not had the time yet.

Hope this helps?[/quote]

Thanks for the response!
You mentioned that you can turn all 3 zones on or off simultaneously...can you also turn them on/off independently with the harmony?
I'm thinking that if they always work together, I might as well just use one switch....I may be thinking wrong though.
Thanks again for the info!

Thanks for the response!
You mentioned that you can turn all 3 zones on or off simultaneously...can you also turn them on/off independently with the harmony?
I'm thinking that if they always work together, I might as well just use one switch....I may be thinking wrong though.
Thanks again for the info![/quote]

I agree; and hope to get to the point where I am running each zone separately.
Lately - I have had zero time to teach this into the Harmony (It's got to be possible)

Hey good news. The 3BM dimmers do indeed seem to have a lot of functionality via Harmony control. Keep in mind I have not done any teaching of the functions. However; being hasty I never took a really close look at what turned out to be >> two additional pages of functionality on the Harmony One screen: The following functions all downloaded from the Harmony database:

Olympics party - Damn why didn't I think of that, ski jumping for all !!

Speaking of the Olympics (if you have been watching) what is your opinion on the HD coverage with NBC? I'll reserve my opinion to see what your thoughts are. I have been watching quite a bit, and was really shocked that they actually showed that young mans death, it was pretty graphic and I thought overly gratuitous.

Glad your SB party went off without a hitch. Did not turn out the way I wanted for sure, but plain and simple the Saints out played us for sure.

Speaking of the Olympics (if you have been watching) what is your opinion on the HD coverage with NBC? I'll reserve my opinion to see what your thoughts are. I have been watching quite a bit, and was really shocked that they actually showed that young mans death,
Regards,

RTROSE

RT,

I have to say the PQ for the Olympics is very nice; especially the panned shots of the mountains. I also thought it was very disrespectful for them to keep reshowing the footage of that tragic accident!!